World Financial Center Revamp Underway

Posted on Wed, 2013-02-27 14:14

There was a time when the Financial District was just known for its bulls and bears—today, however, the neighborhood is making a name for itself as a very desirable residential location as well. The area is home to several great luxury condos, and residents here get to enjoy a neighborhood that’s filled with fantastic restaurants, cutting-edge bars, great cafés and more. Now, foodies in the Financial District will soon be having a new place to converge at—the 30,000 square foot marketplace at the World Financial Center.

A report in Commercial Observer says that famed restaurateur Peter Poulakakos, operator of FiDi favorites like Financier Patisserie, Ulysses’ and Harry’s Café, has officially signed on a contract to run the marketplace at the World Financial Center. Poulakakos beat out other celebrated names like Todd English, Steven Starr and Cipriani’s to run the market, which will consist of 25,000 square feet of indoor space and an additional 7,000 square feet outside. The report also says that besides the market, the space will also include two restaurants.

The World Financial Center is already one of the Financial District’s most prominent structures, with its glass-domed Winter Garden Atrium one of its chief highlights. While the popularity of the location is certain to get a boost with the arrival of Poulakakos’ marketplace, Brookfield Properties, who owns the World Financial Center, has also signed contracts with many other companies to open up their establishments in the Center. These include eateries like Umami Burger and Sprinkles Cupcakes, as well as luxury retail chains like Burberry and Michael Kors.

While the arrival of these businesses in the World Financial Center is certain to delight people already living in the neighborhood, one can expect more people to now be able to see the Financial District as a viable location to live in as well. Brookfield Properties is renaming the World Financial Center as Brookfield Place, which seems to be yet another indication of the changing nature of the neighborhood—the Financial District is no longer defined by just its Wall Street offices; this is now a great destination for luxury lifestyles as well.